Things are getting out of hand here.  I’m two posts behind so let me at least finish up the post I started on Monday.  The good news — yes, the sunshine (and heat) continues.  I had a productive day in Phoenix yesterday and am ready to move on.  I think I might be a day or two ahead of schedule.  Never had that happen before.  I also got to meet an online pal, finally, in person last night (more on that later).  One drink though and I’m paying the price this morning — brain cobwebs and headache.  So I won’t be texty right now since my sentence construction is weak.  Let’s roll with the photos.

My Phoenix area stuff started in Cave Creek.  Big Earl’s Greasy Eats is housed in a former 1930s gas station.  It opened here in 1993,  But I must have missed it the other two times I was here.  This sign appears to be completely new (including the metal) — done in the style-of a vintage sign:

 

Another retro (modern in imitation of old) sign in town:

 

 

Phoenix seems a bit like Mars to me, botanically speaking.  Meaning that seeing all these different types of cactus and shrubbery is shocking and intriguing.  I don’t think I’ve ever noticed purple cactus before — prickly pear?

And these saguaros all seem to be in bloom with little flowers on top.  I don’t remember seeing that either.  I think I’m usually here earlier in the year:

Another blooming cactus — really neat!  This is just a little guy — maybe a foot tall:

And, of course, palm trees everywhere.  They don’t seem to be in northern AZ and I saw very few at all anywhere in NM.  These guys are at the mid-century modern Scottsdale Palms apartments (in Scottsdale):

 

I have been to a few malls in the Phoenix area (carousels, signs that weren’t there anymore) and witnessed the “walkers” phenomenon.  I guess this goes on all over the country but I hadn’t seen it before (not often in malls).  With the heat in Phoenix, mobs of middle-aged folks (hey, I’m one of them so I can call them that!) walking laps to get exercise.  Usually with partners, yakking it up while doing their power laps.  I guess mall management doesn’t mind — extra free security, sets of eyes, and maybe they get a smoothie or something after their laps.

Anyhow, I noticed a couple other things while at the Paradise Valley Mall — this touch screen Coke machine like a giant iPad — also with video playing that my camera didn’t capture well:

Also, this Hurricane Simulator — I didn’t try it out and half-regret it:

 

Loads of mid-century modern in Phoenix — and lots of buildings with these louvered screens.  I don’t know how many are operable or never used that way.  Think Venetian blinds where you can change the angle of the slats to let in more or less light.  No need for this really in New York — but with the scorching temps just the past few days, I get why the concept was a hit here.  This one at a Chase Bank:

 

A couple of well-cared-for signs:

 

I don’t know if this sign had neon originally.  It’s still in business:

 

This giant rooftop sign was built in 1947.  The flower shop closed in 1996.  A few years later, it reopened as the “My Florist Cafe” which kept the sign.  The cafe closed in 2010 but the sign is still there.  It sounds like it might be protected:
http://vanishingphx.downtowndevil.com/the-changing-face-of-my-florist/

 

MacAlpine’s Soda Fountain was established in 1928.  Apparently, still the original cabinetry and booths and other fun vintage stuff on display:

When I’ve been by before to shoot the Rexall signs outside, the place was closed.  But I got lucky this time — this was a chocolate malted crunch sundae.  Chopped up malted milk balls in there.  No good way to photo it in a styrofoam cup — but it was quite yummy:

More food photos to come later in the trip… still have to find pie someplace.

As for the dogs, I found a fantastic place in Gilbert (outskirts of Phoenix) with a lake which has really been a blessing for them.  The Cosmo Dog Park.   It is BIG — with separate areas.  The are lights at night and the place stays open until 10pm.  I have been twice and will be back anytime we’re in the area.  I didn’t take any photos — but there’s one at this page:
http://www.gilbertaz.gov/parks/popups/cosmo-park.cfm
Whenever I see all those rules and regulations, I just ignore them.  Most parks have a 3-dog limit but I’ve never had a problem.  Also many parks have a “no food” policy but I always have dog treats with me.  Also many parks want you to have a local license or rabies tag on your collar.  But I’ve never been asked for that either.  So, if you’re traveling with dogs, don’t be put off by signs or websites — just go have fun.

I’ll be back tonight with a double-batch post and Flickr photos.

The bank clocks I saw read 105.  I think it was a high of 109.   The dogs had the luxury of A/C for the most part while I jumped in and out.   Shockingly hot out there.   I don’t know how residents handle it.  One guy I spoke with said July & August are regularly 115+.  Gawd.

Sparkle’s running nicely despite the abusive day-after-day driving.   I have tons and tons of photos for you.  But running ridiculously late tonight (already 2 am) since I went neon-shooting til 11pm.  And tomorrow night, I’ll be doing my socializing thing (more about that later).  And I could use a night off from all this homework.  So, I’ll have to catch up on Wednesday night somehow.

I’ll give you a few photos to hold you over until then.  All of these are from Mesa:

 

 

 

Love the name — desert + wonderama:

 

I’ll try to give you a quickie post tomorrow night (with maybe a couple photos).  And then a three-day photo marathon on Wednesday.

I made really good progress and have us set up for Phoenix tomorrow.   More sun.  And now killer heat.  All was fine temperature-wise until sometime crossing through the mountains this afternoon south of Sedona and Clarkdale.  It’s after midnight now and still 80-something.  Expected to be 109 tomorrow.  And similar temps here for the next five days or so.  Good lord — I hope Sparkle’s A/C is ready for this!  I think I will continue racing through my lists so that we can get back up north for the rest of the AZ stuff — and eventually the Midwest and  Cincinnati which have got to be cooler!

Heads up — I will probably be taking a night off from Flickring and blogging this week — maybe even tomorrow night.  I’m hoping to hook up with someone for some food and drinks in Phoenix.  I’ll let you know when and if this happens — and, if so, I’ll make up for it with a double batch of photos the following night.

On with today.  We started the day in Holbrook and headed down to the Petrified Forest Gift Shop.  I had some reshooting of the dinosaur statues and teepees there.  And it’s about time for some shots of the kids as well:

 

On a petrified wood stump:

And a rare one with Fixie’s eyes open — and Nik’s mouth shut:

 

On the way back to downtown — this billboard — for the super neat place that doesn’t exist anymore.  It was like one of those drive-thru wild animal parks — but with dinosaur statues instead.  I loved it — and so did the dogs:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/agilitynut/76613411/

 

A couple of signs downtown — and a question:  what are these perforated torch like things?
This is the Holbrook Inn sign.  I assume there were lights inside these — maybe even multiple lights inside which would flash and create an exciting effect.  But I’m guessing:

 

A similar thingie in cone form — at Brad’s Desert Inn:

I believe these similar lights in Memphis are static:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/agilitynut/430034217/

 

This educational hand painted sign at the Rainbow Rock Shop.   Neat — with palm trees, cactus, carnivorous dinosaur, AND volcano:

 

More signs in Holbrook — I can report from last night that this one is only partially lit.  The sputniky thing on top has only one bulb operating:

 

Love the curvy arrow and frames:

 

Stewart’s Petrified Wood in Holbrook is a must-see stop.  Ostriches, statues… oh, and I guess a gift shop which I’ve still never been in.  Too early on a Sunday morning today — the gates were locked.  But still lots of fun stuff to shoot — including these enticing billboards:

 

St. Joseph has the famous saddled fiberglass jackrabbit statue for photo-ops.  But, more than that, I like this billboard sign:

 

On to Flagstaff.  OK, sign lovers and experts — what did this sign advertise for originally?  That shape is the give-away.  Big hint:  think orange and navy porcelain.  Another hint?  Chain drug store.  Here’s the reveal if you’re still stumped:
http://agilitynut.com/signs/rex.html

 

More faded beauties in Flagstaff:

 

This one reads “Tourist Home”:

 

A not-so-great cover-up — or just faded this way with time.  For the Downtowner Motel now — but I can’t quite make out the original wording:

 

On to Sedona.   Son Silver West has lots of signs — I was there for the giant rooster statue.  But this sign caught my eye — for a Husky gas station:

 

Eventually, to Prescott Valley.  This sign is modern but just weird enough to include here:

 

And this oldie.  I don’t know how much longer this place (and sign) will be around.  Pretty much surrounded by new development:

You may notice some brown haze behind the sign towards the bottom.  That’s smoke from the forest fire(s) going on around here.  My eyes have already been stinging and red from the dust and wind and dryness.  And now with the smoke, they’re killing me.

That’s it for tonight.  If it’s gonna be 109 tomorrow, I’m thinking ice cream is in order!

A whirlwind romp today fueled by cooler weather and beautiful skies (puffy white clouds in the morning).  Tidied up the NW corner of AZ and, while at it, across the border to nearby CO cities.  I hadn’t been to any of these places before so it was extra fun for me.  Then down and over to begin our next chapter:  about 9 days in Arizona before heading east to Cincinnati.

Late, as usual, so let’s get to the photos.  Shiprock, NM — how’s that for blue skies and bright signs — are you squinting?

 

A fun little place in Shiprock:

 

On to Colorado — this one in Cortez.  Once again, a freakin’ pole to spoil my photo.  I shot from the backside but looks like crap since facing the sun.  I made a note to return in the afternoon sometime.

The Cork ‘n Bottle also has this rooftop sign — clock not working:

 

Also in Cortez:

 

From Mancos, CO:

 

On to Durango, CO.  This is a…. dog park!  24 acres — right next to downtown.  With access to the Animas River.  Hiking trails.  It goes on and on and on.  Do I need to tell you how much fun the kids had here?

 

Also in Durango — stained glass and vitrolite:

 

On to Farmington, NM.   What appeals to me most about this sign is the neon swirlie on top:

 

Pretty buried in the trees — not sure what a rocket has to do with mobile homes:

 

I don’t know if this Pancake Alley is related to the one in Las Cruces that I posted a few days ago:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/agilitynut/7193640440/

Extra credit to anyone that wants to google-search to find out — I’m just too beat tonight.

 

Chef Bernie’s has not only a wonderful sign:

but this sensational building as well:

In-cred-i-ble:

 

This detail is from the Cameo Theatre — built in 1971:

 

And finally — across the border into Arizona.  I always have to stop at these cheesy tourist things no matter how many times I’ve seen them before.  This one always amuses me because of the juxtaposition of the nature-made and the man-made:

 

Magnificent and tacky at the same time:

 

Let’s stop in Holbrook for the night:

 

The forecast for the next five days here in Northern AZ is nothing but orange dots:  meaning nothing but non-stop sun.  I gave Sparkle’s A/C a quick test today and all seems up to snuff.  Bedtime now at 12:30.  Gotta get up bright and early for dinosaurs.  I may have seen them all before — but I can’t wait!

The sun looked great this morning in Albuquerque — but then it was like one massive white cloud overhead after the first hour.   I got through about 80% of what I wanted in the sun though.  Finished up and was on my way — east to Edgewood, south to Belen & Socorro.  Then west to Grants & Gallup.  And finally way up here to the northwest corner (Shiprock for the night).  Tomorrow, I should be able to finish up here and start on Arizona.  A day early despite all the setbacks!  I sure have contributed to New Mexico’s economy in the past 10 days or so.  I’m hoping Arizona is kinder and cheaper.  Bring on the heat and the sun — the A/C seems to be working.

The dogs have been really quiet today.  I think walking them around in the heat yesterday really zonked them.  One more shot for you from Albuquerque — the giant white cloud on its way:

 

East of Grants at exit 96 on I-40 are these signs for Whiting Bros.  They’ve been abandoned for many years:

 

On to Grants and Gallup — where the clouds were only the playful type.  From Grants:

 

The wind was intense in Grants & Gallup.  I’d say 50 mph or so.  Making just standing still to take a photo a challenge.  You can see the tree blowing in this shot from Grants:

 

Way too many signs at my blog posts lately.  How about this mid-century modern liquor store in Grants.  The two canopies spear through those rocky supports:

 

Last one from Grants:

 

The rest of the photos in this post are from Gallup:

 

This appears to be a refurbished old sign:

 

I’m really developing a deep fondness for these “corduroy” (corrugated plastic) signs:

 

A road snack.  I really needed it since I had hardly eaten anything all day in the interest of maximizing photo taking.  I’d never had guac-flavored chips before.  Pretty mild but tasty.  Though nothing beats plain old Doritos Original Nacho chips or just plain Fritos  in my opinion.

 

One last sign and I’m getting into bed.  Really need a decent night’s sleep.   I needed three cups of coffee today because of all the boring long interstate drives.  The scenery has been beautiful but not stimulating enough.  The gum and radio are not enough sometimes.  More long drives tomorrow between stops.

This curly arrow sign is at the Red Mesa Express gas station in Gallup.  It doesn’t look like much here — but it has to be at least eight feet long:

Hope to be writing to you from Arizona tomorrow night.  We’ll be heading mostly north to south but, as with New Mexico, big cities, tiny towns, all over the place.

I started the day proactively — took Sparkle in for the post-Accident alignment at 7am.  Check that off the to-do list.  I got it for free at least since I’d wisely gotten that Lifetime Alignment thingie at a Firestone back in San Angelo, TX.  The procedure took about an hour.  Then I began shooting in Albuquerque.  I was psyched!  Great sun and a huge list of stuff all dense and organized.

Around noon, it started getting really hot — the dogs were panting.  So I turned on the A/C. Nothing.  Dammit!!  It was working fine just last week.  And no matter how much I have it looked over before I leave home, no matter how many thousands of dollars I spend on it (probably close to $5000 in three years now), it breaks down on my trips and takes up gobs of time.  But no choice here — it’s gonna be 110 in Phoenix and wherever else.  Had to get it fixed.

I spied  a Firestone immediately ahead.  Yup, freon all gone and they took two hours to find the source of the leak.  Finally, discovered cracks in the “hose set”.  Sparkle has an A/C hose that runs to front, rear and sides — a big octopus thing that’s about ten feet long.  It took them an hour to find the part.  Then they said maybe two hours to install it and recharge the freon.  It was killing me to sit there with that gorgeous sun.  So I headed off in the heat to shoot some nearby stuff with the dogs in tow.

We were nearly dead after two hours.  I had brought water along and tried to keep us in the shade as much as possible — but it was killer.  So, we went back and sat around the waiting room some more.  Finally, just past their closing time of 6pm, it was finished. SIX HOURS!!!  I was not a happy camper.  Oh, and another bill:  $788.  Good god — is this the most expensive roadtrip ever or what?

I tried to find my motivation and get a little shooting done before the light went.  But I was just so miserable and pissed.  Plus — a new little irritating noise that wasn’t there before the A/C was fixed.  The hood isn’t closing tightly since The Accident.  No big deal.  But now it’s squeaking!  Eee-eee, eee-eee, eee-ee.  I’m trying to ignore it but it’s like fingernails on a chalkboard.  I finally stuffed a small towel in there just so that it cuts back on some of the noise.  Will play with it some more tomorrow — and maybe even stop at a body shop and see if I can do something quick and easy to quiet the thing.

OK, enough whining.  I did manage to get a lot done today despite the ordeal.  Here’s another example of the local approach to fast food buildings:

What’s left of the cavalier at the Cavalier Motel.  Another business has covered up the rest of the sign with a vinyl tarp:

 

Many of you probably thought the Uptown Plaza Roto-Sphere in Gallup was destroyed when it was removed in 2006:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/joeyharrison/152903023/lightbox/

But I tracked it down and went to pay it a visit today at Southwest Signs.  It’s still sitting there gathering dust.  The arms in another corner.  The shop is waiting for the owner to come up with the money to pay for the restoration:

More about Roto-Spheres if you’re unfamiliar:
http://agilitynut.com/sca/roto.html

I got a little tour of the sign shop.  No neon signs sitting around — but some other interesting stuff.  Including this Dennis the Menace sign which I was told was installed at a Dairy Queen:

I didn’t know about the Dennis & DQ connection before but Wikipedia provides this:

“Dennis the Menace appeared in Dairy Queen marketing from 1971 until 2001, when he was dropped because Dairy Queen felt children could no longer relate to him.”

 

On to Central Ave. (Route 66) and all the treasures and used-to-be treasures.  I’ve often wondered if there weren’t stars or something else on the harp-like neon strings:

 

I believe a modern (not adapted) sign.  I like the crude shape:

 

Some of these photos were taking with my panting crew along, god bless ’em.  I’ve done a lot of training with them and it’s handy to be able to tell them to stay, drop the leashes and step out into traffic to get the right shooting angle for things:

 

Never noticed this one before — that’s what happens when you’re walking vs. driving.  But walking still sucks:

 

OK — what braniac installed all these freaking white lightposts on Central Ave. since my last trip?  I can’t believe how stupid this “improvement” was.  I guess they just stuck them in every 30 feet or whatever completely ignorant of anything else.  This is the recently adapted Nob Hill Motel sign — a link to the unobstructed, pre-adapted view in 2006:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/agilitynut/283158933/

Nice white pole, huh?  And here are a couple other examples:

 

This motel is gone — but the sign still there.  The text beneath it reads “Hiway House” and was used for another motel which is still down the street.  More info about the history of this place here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/madronaway/5570203314/

 

Another sign I don’t think I’ve shot before but stopped since we were on foot:

 

And some post-A/C-repair shots.  Just kick me again!  Here’s my 2008 photo of Galles Chevrolet:

And the remodeling in January this year — dammit!:

At least they left the interior alone:

 

I took a little break when the sun got too low and then hit the streets again later for some night shooting.  Therefore, I’m writing this post right now at 1:40 am.  Sheesh.

 

Lastly, this window “skeleton” sign (just neon, no sign panel) is at the Modern Cleaners.  It’s a two-part animation with the worker’s right arm and iron moving back and forth.  I can’t tell if it’s vintage or new:

 

Tomorrow’s forecast is for more sun with maybe some clouds (the good white kind or the bad interfering kind, I don’t know).  With a few hours sleep, I’ll be full of determination and positivity again.  Maybe I can still get back on schedule even with today’s delay.

Another full day of sunshine.  And I made the most of it motoring all through the forests and mountains north of Albuquerque, down to Santa Fe, over to Cuba — and back to Bernalillo to set us up for Albuquerque tomorrow.   Whew!  And now, getting a very late start.  Not promising much coherency or flourishy writing tonight.  Sparkle running great — got her third or fourth oil change — I’ve lost track.  The dogs got a couple swims today — weather still pretty mild and the water is COLD.

Let’s start with Raton — yes, that’s 7:19 am.  If the sun is there, I get cracking early!

 

At a former Conoco gas station.  I’ve never seen a Dr Pepper machine before (no, it wasn’t filled with bottles or working):

 

Two signs are better than one:

 

Signs in the window indicated that this is soon to become the “Rockin’ Raton 50s Diner”.  Gawd.  I hope they don’t mess with the sign — but it seems inevitable:

 

I couldn’t resist slipping across the border to nearby Trinidad, CO:

 

Back into New Mexico — this is in Cimarron:

 

North of Taos — a couple of shots from the headquarters of Earthship Biotecture:
http://earthship.com/

 

From Embudo — the Gasoline Alley Museum.  Which is Johnnie Meier’s collection of all kinds of stuff — mostly gas station related:

 

Lots of gas station signs as well.  This ice cream sign came from someplace about an hour north of town:

 

And the more valuable stuff is locked in a building.  Gas pump globes, photos, ephemera, etc.:

 

On to Espanola:

 

Down to Santa Fe:

 

Taos & Santa Fe are really decked out in Pueblo styled buildings.  Including the chain restaurants like McDonald’s & Burger King.  Here’s a unique IHOP in Santa Fe:

 

Another one from Santa Fe — a bus stop shelter:

 

Getting late but westward I went — the former Big Chief Gas Station in Zia Pueblo.  No pumps anymore but this sign remains:

 

A fun, modern sign in Bernalillo:

 

And, lastly, shot just as the sun had set behind the clouds.  Had to use the flash for this one.  It’s this time of day, I can’t help but think where I could have shaved a few precious minutes off somewhere and gotten a better shot.  But I think you guys will like the moodiness anyway:

 

That’s it — 1 am and a big day tomorrow.  I’ve got a huge list for Albuquerque which will take at least two marathon days of shooting.

Yes, the Land of Enchantment really came through today.  Non-stop sun, cloudless skies.  And more of the same forecast for tomorrow.  Busy, busy all day long.  Didn’t get settled til after 10pm because I wanted to set us up in Raton for tomorrow’s schedule.  It’s already close to midnight and I have a LOT of photos cropped & ready for you.  Sparkle only got breaks at gas stations.  And she ran like a champ — twisty mountains, city driving, desert driving, all of it.

Grip, Fix and I got bit by fire ants.  Nik & Grem were running around too fast I guess for them to latch on.  Grip was licking a front paw for awhile.  But Fixie, the drama queen, has been limping all day and barely will get out of the van.  I got them up my pants leg.   Even though it was somewhat a public area, I didn’t care — I just dropped my pants and plucked them off of me.  I stepped on them and they squashed out my blood.  Disgusting.  I believe all animals have the right to a healthy and happy life — except bugs that bite me or my dogs.  I can’t kill those suckers fast enough.

Let’s get to it.  Starting with Portales:

 

What’s with New Mexico’s water?  Is it not safe to drink?  Everywhere, just everywhere, there are those water vending machines and now a water store.  Love the water bottle entrance:

 

From Texico (yes, that’s right, at the border of TX & NM):

 

Over the border slightly to Bovina, TX:

 

On to Clovis, NM:

 

A Streamline Moderne / Art Deco building:

 

Love the little shield letters and how the blue & white & black match the rest of the photo:

 

Glad to see this place is hanging in there — despite being surrounded by other fast food places:

Had to show some support — had a craving for onion rings and these did not disappoint!

 

On to Tucumcari:

 

Detail from the Golden Dragon restaurant sign:

 

An interesting building I hadn’t noticed before — I’d say Art Deco with neat fruit?, pine cone? & cactus details:

 

I’ve shot a lot of these Phillips 66 stations on this trip.  This one I’ll include because I like the tires with the Tires sign — and the garage sign across the street:

 

A modern-ish billboard downtown — don’t forget, all my photos are clickable to get a larger size.  The shark/drugs chasing the girl/our youth.  The boat says “Our Community” on it:

 

 

On to Santa Rosa — the La Mesa Motel:

 

From the boarded-up Western Motel:

 

Some flowering cacti.  Haven’t seen that much cactus on this trip yet — only the stuff installed by humans in planters and such:

 

On to Las Vegas (NM, that is):

 

Yes, that’s Sparkle on the right — another view of the unique bumper:

 

On a depressing note — over to Dalhart, TX to shoot a few things.  I checked up on the Mission Twins Theatre that I shot last year when it was being “renovated” for a church:

Sure enough — they stripped it:

 

Over to Clayton for one more sign for the evening:

 

Tomorrow, we’ll be up and down the mountains north of Albuquerque.  After that, the rough plan if you’re interested:  Thurs & Fri, Albuquerque; Sat south of ABQ; Sun west of ABQ; and then Monday or Tuesday, on to Arizona.  I think it’s do-able and puts us on schedule.  We are officially just past the halfway point of this trip — 19 more days to go!  Seems like forever since we were in Ohio and West Virginia, doesn’t it?